Biodegradable Polymers with Specific Metal Binding Sites Based on Bipyridine-Containing Poly(lactid acid) and Poly(ɛ-caprolactone): Towards High-Molecular Weight Polyesters

Mono- and difunctionalized 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridines were introduced into polyesters in order to design polymer architectures with specific metal binding units. The polymerizations were carried out using aluminium-alkoxide derivatives prepared by a reaction between triethylaluminium and the corresponding hydroxymethyl-functionalized bipyridine derivatives. Polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution were obtained. The incorporation of the metal binding unit could be proven by UV/VIS-spectroscopy and NMR-spectroscopy.